Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters sadly

Chapter 17 – Beginning of the End

Draco walked somewhat happily down the hallway rubbing his hand through his hair. He was decked in high ranking military attire that was covered in medals he had not won. Everything matching from his head to his toe, a beautiful dark brown, and a few guards followed him.

"I need you all on high alert," he instructed his guards. "Harry Potter might try to make an appearance."

The guards nodded their heads and loaded their guns; some even pulled wands from their coats.

(Somewhere outside Malfoy Manor)

I have no choice…sir I can clearly see the ceremony beginning…I cannot stand by…understood sir…I will stand down & await further orders…

The figure that had been stalking the Malfoy's for days disconnected communications. He grunted heavily and began to move forward towards a bright light up ahead.

A large door pushed open and two large men stepped out into the courtyard, one was carrying Hermione on his shoulders. The courtyard was wide and oval shaped, its edges lined with huge torches casting an eerie light over the area. Shadows danced back and forth adding to the creepy feeling the area gave off.

The men walked to the side and placed Hermione on a bench then took his place. The same door pushed open and Lucious Malfoy entered the courtyard, covered in a dark robe that seemed to reflect the universe itself. Stars, suns and planets flowed around his robe in a beautiful display.

Several armed guards followed him out of the door and took their respective positions. Lucious walked off into the shadows and appeared to be talking on a phone or something.

Harry ducked his head low barely dodging the sight of a camera. He army crawled across a grassy area, through some bushes until he reached a window. He gave a quick flick from his wrist and the window pushed open giving him entrance.

"Just my luck," he said realizing he climbed right into a room with two guards in it. He quickly flung one of them into the wall with wand-less magic then ducked from gunshots being fired.

He reached for his wand & pointed it from around the table. "Expelliarmous," the gun flew from the man's hands. Harry then stood up and casually fired a blasting charm finishing the guard.

He quickly darted from the room and out into the open hallway, looked left then right and ran right. Harry immediately came dipping back around the corner followed by several gunshots. He quickly fired a blasting charm through the roof and jumped up through the hole escaping.

Draco finally opened the door and joined his father in the courtyard, closely followed by more guards. "Awaken Hermione," he instructed then walked over to where his father was.

"Is everything going according to plan?" he questioned.

"Yes," Lucious replied. "Guards stationed throughout the premises and several here with us."

"Anything yet?" Draco asked.

"No," Lucious replied. "Nothing as of yet." He walked closer to his son. "They've been instructed to bring the cauldron immediately upon your request."

Draco smiled big brightening the area with his pearly whites. "Good, good. I don't think anything could mess this up right now." He turned and watched the guards bringing a now conscious Hermione to her feat.

"Weasly is half dead, Dumbledore is blind to the situation, Cornelius Fudge is locked away in my study, Granger is here with us, and Potter is nowhere to be seen." Draco added laughing slightly to himself.

"HANDS UP!"

Draco and his father turned around to see two wands pointed at their faces. Draco looked up and eyed the figure for a moment; he knew his face but couldn't remember from where.

"Nobody move!" the figure bellowed. "Team move in," he then instructed over a com link.

12 other figures appeared from the edges of the courtyard wands and guns pointed. They drew down on Malfoy's guards and motioned for them to circle up in the middle.

"Free Ms. Granger and arm her," the figure instructed.

"Longbottom?" Draco grumbled finally realizing who the figure was. "Neville Longbottom."

"Agent Longbottom to you scum," Neville shot back poking his wand into Draco's forehead.

"Agent Longbottom," Lucious repeated questioning his own ears. "What a peculiar name."

"Shut up!" Neville shouted. "I've watching you both for months, gathering evidence for our case against you both."

"Under who's orders?" Lucious demanded.

"Cornelius Fudge," Neville replied.

"Impossible!" Lucious snarled. "We've had Fudge captured for months; the Fudge giving your orders was a house elf."

"Minister of Magic or house elf I was given orders and have been carrying them out. I've been watching you long before you kidnapped Ms. Granger." Neville shot back.

Hermione rushed up behind Draco and slapped him hard in the face. "PIG! DISGUSTING PIG!" she slapped him again until Draco finally elbowed her in the cheek knocking her down.

Lucious fired a blasting charm into Neville's chest sending him flying off into the bushes. Draco turned and did the same to the nearest agent; his guards began fighting with Neville's agents.

"It seems you spoke to soon," Lucious said grinning at his son.

"Never suspected Longbottom to become something useful in life," Draco replied. "And he's dealt with anyway."

Draco caught a blasting charm in his shoulder and flew forward several feet. Neville stepped onto the courtyard edge and leapt down kicking Lucious in the face. He quickly drew down on Lucious, pointing a wand at his throat.

His agents behind him where in an all out brawl with Malfoy's guards. Blasting charms, bullets, and bloody bodies lined the area as the few that remained fought for survival.

"Longbottom is it?" Lucious questioned with a laugh. "The headlines will read Agent Longbottom killed in action."

"Agent Longbottom," Neville grumbled stabbing his wand into Malfoy's Adams apple choking him for a moment. "You're lucky my orders are not to kill you."

Neville turned around just in time to catch Draco's fist in his face. Draco then opened his palm and slowly moved it upwards lifting Neville into the air. Neville was paralyzed floating upwards only able to move his head.

"How dare you invade my privacy fouling my area of residence with your putrid presence!" Draco hissed, pure hatred dripping from every word as he stalked closer to Neville still holding him mid air.

"w-what…in t-the…" Neville struggled to even speak he was astonished by Malfoy's power.

"You have done nothing but prolong the inevitable," Draco said now mere inches from Neville's face. "Away with you." He flicked his wrist and forced Neville's body into the concrete lining of the courtyard cracking it slightly.

Neville coughed up blood immediately upon impact and his arms fell limply to the ground. "Advada Kadvera," the killing curse struck his already unconscious body finishing the job. Lucious Malfoy laughed and put his wand back into his robs.

Draco turned and saw the battle still going on behind them. "Let me see your wand father." Lucious reached the wand over and Draco placed it at his neck.

"ALL OF YOU AGENTS DROP YOUR WEAPONS OR SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS LONGBOTTOM!"

The battle quickly drew to a close as the agent noticed Neville Longbottoms dead corpse lying on the ground. Malfoys guards quickly picked up their weapons and shot all the agents killing them in the middle of the courtyard.

Only six of the Malfoys guards were still alive the rest lay dead along with the 12 agents and Neville Longbottom. Blood and guts was sprayed and stained around the entire courtyard.

"Such a bloody mess," Lucious said sounding disgusted.

"You pick up Hermione and make sure she's alright," Draco quickly instructed. "The rest of you push those bodies to the edge of the courtyard and run water over the blood."